Healthy Taco Casserole {25 Minute One Pot Meal}

We lighten the load by using lean turkey and add plenty of beans and veggies for bulk while maintaining classic taco flavor. Although the cheese is a bit missing, you won’t miss it! Serve this casserole over rice, wrap it in a tortilla, or just scoop it up with some baked chips. Everything sounds good!

This dinner is on the table in just 25 minutes and uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients. With 46 grams of protein per serving, it’s not only easy, but it’ll keep you full all night long!

before starting

A few quick tips to make this dish flow easily and hit all the right boxes.

• Using 99% Lean Turkey (or another lean protein) so the roast tastes light but still satisfying.
• Choose a chunky salsa (rather than thin) so the casserole sticks together instead of becoming watery. Substitute canned diced tomatoes or Rotel tomatoes.
• Drained beans and corn are key. Too much liquid = unstable casserole.
• Makes ingredient prep easier. Use frozen peppers and onions and/or frozen minced garlic. Fresh corn, canned corn, or frozen corn will all work. Use any legume you like including pinto beans, black beans, white beans, kidney beans or refried beans.
• Your griddle or oven-safe pan is important. A wide frying pan helps everything mix evenly before going straight into the oven for the finishing touches.
• Make your own taco seasoning. Rather than using a ton of different spices, taco seasoning is an easy way to add Tex-Mex flavor with one spice blend. It contains paprika, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and pepper.

How to Make Skillet Taco Casserole

Make this quick and easy tortilla casserole in your skillet. One plate dinner is a winner!

1. Brown the turkey and vegetables

Start by heating a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground turkey and cook for 3-4 minutes, breaking it up.

Add diced onion, chili pepper and garlic. Continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until turkey is cooked through and onions and peppers are soft.

2. Add beans, corn and seasonings

Add drained beans, corn, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning to skillet. Stir all ingredients well and cook for about 2 minutes until all ingredients are well combined. Taste the mixture and adjust flavors as needed.

Then add a nice, chunky salsa (or drained diced tomatoes). Taste again and season with salt and pepper as needed. Some taco seasonings are very salty, so don’t add salt until you’ve tasted the taco mixture.

3. Melt cheese and add toppings

Add a layer of shredded cheese on top and place the entire skillet in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted, bubbling and lightly golden.

You can also melt the cheese on the stovetop by covering the skillet for about 5 minutes, but it won’t get the golden, slightly crispy texture.

Let the casserole sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. Add all your favorite toppings and enjoy.

Make Traditional Baked Tortilla Casserole (With or Without Rice)

The main difference between this recipe and the more classic taco casserole recipe is that everything is cooked in a skillet. Typically, casseroles are made in the oven, and many come with something like rice, tortillas, or tortilla chips to make them heartier.

Here are some ways to turn this into a more traditional casserole.

1. Start by sautéing onions, peppers and garlic until soft. Add turkey and brown until browned. Add taco seasoning.
2. Spray baking pan with cooking spray.
3. Start with the bottom of the casserole. This can be a layer of cooked brown rice, white rice or quinoa. For a low-carb option, use a layer of cauliflower rice or spaghetti squash. For something a little more flavorful, add a layer of lightly crumbled tortilla chips. You can also add a layer of tortillas cut into triangles.
4. Combine the cooked turkey mixture with the beans, corn, salsa, and tomato sauce. Use this as the second layer of the casserole.
5. Add cheese on top.
6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly on the sides. Remove foil and cook for another 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbling.
7. Let cool for 5-10 minutes. Add all your favorite toppings and serve.

Serving Suggestions: The best ingredients!

Taco casserole has a long history, and nearly all of that history involves a ton of interesting ingredients that bring the dish to life. Here are some popular choices.

Note – these are not always healthy choices. A more fun idea: Make a casserole and set up an ingredient bar for everyone to make their own toppings.

• lettuce: A layer of freshly chopped lettuce added some delicious crunch and broke up the heaviness of the rest of the dish.
• tomato: Another great chopped element are fresh tomatoes, or homemade pico de Gallo for something even more delicious!
• Avocado or guacamole: I have a hard time eating tacos without avocado, so I always add some chopped avocado or guacamole.
• Dice fresh jalapeños: For extra heat, add chopped jalapenos on top or on the side. Leave the seeds in for extra heat.
• black olives: For a salty element that reminds you of tortilla chips, add some black olive slices.
• red onion: If you like it sweeter, add some diced red onions or pickled red onions!
• Sour cream or Greek yogurt: If you want it creamier, add a small amount of light sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.
• Baked or plain tortilla chips: For crunch, serve crushed tortilla chips with the casserole. It can be used as a topping on a pile of baked chips, as a dip, or just crumbled on top.
• Fridos: While not the healthiest option, many people enjoy it with crunchy, salty French fries.
• Doritos: Just crumble some on top and enjoy in moderation. You can also look for baked Doritos.

Leftovers, Storage and Freezing

This dish freezes well. Just store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat in the oven or microwave.

If you plan on freezing it, consider freezing it without the cheese. Then add cheese when reheating.